THE GAWCOTT COMMUNITY GROUP [GCG]

The Community Group was the inspiration of Patrick and Lindsey Fealey and at its inaugural meeting in September 2012, a group of a dozen or so residents agreed that after the very successful Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in the Village earlier in the year, it would be good to establish a group to regularly organise community centred events. It was agreed that the focus would be on community-building along with the raising of some funds to enable Village groups to be helped or established.

In the years since 2012, Village children’s Christmas parties have been held, the lighted Christmas tree on the Green has been organised, usually with a donated Christmas tree, and the Funday, Beer Festival and vintage car rally became a feature of the calendar in early July each year at the Playing Field.

In 2018 it was decided to rethink the summer Family Funday due to insufficient helpers and also because of the substantial financial commitment necessary to run such a large-scale event. In its place, a traditional Village Fete was arranged, centred on the Green, with all Village organisations being invited to take part to raise funds for their own groups. This proved to be a great success, in part due to the date in June coinciding with the start of Bucks Art Weeks with the art exhibition in Holy Trinity Church and artist’s studios being open in the Village.

Over the years, Community Group and fundraising events, sometimes partnering with other Village groups, have included race nights, social parties, a comedy show, a pantomime, exhibitions, Halloween parties, quiz nights, Christmas raffle, bingo, James Bond party, Village clean-up day, bulb planting, the Gawcott sign, Easter egg hunt, Christmas lights, the Queen’s 90th birthday beacon event and the summer holiday play events at the Playing Field.Community Group funds have been applied to all the children’s parties over the years and grants have been given to the Pre-School, Roundwood School, the Cricket Club, the Friendship Club and to assist with repairs in the churchyard following the vandalism of headstones.